Dispensing bath toy

ABSTRACT

A dispensing bath toy provides a refillable dispensing container within a plush toy. An outer cloth shell in the form of a living thing and has an interior portion enclosing a liquid-wicking stuffing. A liquid container includes an inner portion disposed within the interior portion of the outer cloth shell and an outer portion having a cap and a spout. The outer portion extends through an opening in the outer cloth shell such that a compressive force applied to the container with the cap separated from the spout causes a dispensing of any liquid in the container through the spout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates both to dispensers and to children's toys.

Beauty product bottles such as those for holding and dispensing shampoo,conditioner, bubble bath solution, etc. are not stimulating. Somemanufactures print pictures of animals or characters on them to try tomake them more fun, cute or appealing to people. However, these stilllack the soft feel of a plush toy.

Known stuffed animals are not usable in water such as during a bath orshower because when wet they lack enough rigidity to remain erect andthey take a long time to dry. Furthermore, they are not provided withdispensing bottles inside.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a refillable dispensing container withina plush toy and, in one embodiment, comprises an outer cloth shell inthe form of a living thing and having an interior portion;liquid-wicking stuffing held within the interior portion of the outercloth shell to support the outer cloth shell and the form of the livingthing; and a liquid container having an inner portion disposed withinthe interior portion of the outer cloth shell and an outer portionextending through an opening in the outer cloth shell. The container hasa spout and a removable cap hinged to the container for selectivesealing of the spout. The container is compressible such that acompressive force applied to the container with the cap separated fromthe spout causes a dispensing of any liquid in the container through thespout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: illustrates a perspective view of a bath toy in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a bath toy in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a bath toy in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of a bath toy in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a section view of the bath toy of FIG. 2 along line5-5.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a bath toy in accordance with asecond exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a bath toy in accordance with a thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As may be viewed in FIGS. 1-5, in an exemplary embodiment of a bath toydispenser is generally in the form of an animal that may be consideredappealing to a user. The bath toy dispenser 10 is comprised of an outerfabric shell 20 which is generally pliable and flexible and enclosesstuffing 18. Fabric shell 20 is filled by stuffing 18 throughout itsinterior including spaces in, for example, arms, legs or head of ananimal resembled by the bath toy dispenser 10. Stuffing 18 is preferablyof a wicking, quick-dry material such that water will not be heldthereby within the interior of fabric shell 20.

As best viewed in the cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 5, dispensingbath toy 10 may have a cavity therein to allow receipt of an innerportion of a container 16 for containing a bathing liquid. An outerportion is comprised of a spout 26 and a cap 24 which extend to anexterior of dispensing bath toy 10 through an opening. In animal formembodiments of the present invention, the opening is preferably locatedin a perineal region.

Container 16 is compressible or squeezable such that when squeezed, aliquid 22 held therein is dispensed through a spout 26 when cap 24 is inan open position away from spout 26. However, container 16 providesenough support to dispensing bath toy 10 that toy 10 will maintain anerect form even when wet. Cap 24 may be attached to container 16 eitherdirectly or indirectly through spout 26. Connection may be accomplishedby threads or hinges.

When a user desires to dispense shampoo or other liquid, they positioncap 24 away from spout 26 and squeeze the plush toy, for example in thetorso or abdominal region of the animal. By the squeezing, any containedliquid is dispensed through the spout 26 and from the bottom or perinealregion of the stuffed animal.

To construct the dispensing bath toy 10, a cloth 20 material suitablefor use in water, such as terry cloth, is cut or otherwise formed into apattern of a living thing such as an animal. Some portions of the clothmaterial 20 are stitched together and then the water-wicking stuffingmaterial 18 is packed in. When the proper amount of stuffing material 18to maintain the volume of the cloth material 20 is inside the interiorof the cloth material 20, remaining unstitched portions are stitchedtogether while leaving a cavity and an opening for receiving a inner andouter portions of a liquid container 16. Finally, container 16 is placedinside the provided cavity and stitched into place.

A variety of bathing or cosmetic fluids, liquids or gels may be heldwithin container 16 including but not limited to shampoo, lotion, soap,bubble-bath solution and scented oils. Furthermore, container 16 iscapable of holding a variety of fluids, liquids or gels which may arenot generally known to be used for bathing or cosmetics.

Dispensing bath toy 10 may be provided in the form of any living thingincluding but not limited to plants, fungi, animals, bacteria orviruses. The animal may be a monkey as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, a lionas illustrated in FIG. 6, a kangaroo as illustrated in FIG. 7 or anyother animal such as an elephant, zebra, bear, giraffe, etc.

In some embodiments, the outer fabric shell 20 and stuffing material 18may be provided having a cavity therein but without a container. In suchembodiments, a user may place the fabric shell 20 and stuffing materialonto a container they provide.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain specificembodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changesmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appendedclaims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispensing bath toy, comprising: an outer clothshell in the form of a living thing and having an interior portion; avolume of liquid-wicking stuffing held within the interior portion ofthe outer cloth shell to support the outer cloth shell and the form ofthe living thing; a liquid container having an inner portion disposedwithin the interior portion of the outer cloth shell and an outerportion extending through an opening in the outer cloth shell and havinga spout and a removable cap for selective sealing of the spout.
 2. Thedispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the removable capis attachable to the liquid container by mating threads.
 3. Thedispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the removable capis hinged to the liquid container.
 4. The dispensing bath toy as setforth in claim 1, wherein: the liquid container is compressible suchthat a compressive force applied to the container with the cap separatedfrom the spout causes a dispensing of any liquid in the containerthrough the spout.
 5. The dispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 1,wherein: the living thing is an animal.
 6. The dispensing bath toy asset forth in claim 5, wherein: the opening in the outer cloth shell isformed in a perineal region of the animal such that squeezing of theliquid container with the cap separated from the spout causes adispensing of any liquid in the container through the spout and theopening in the perineal region.
 7. The dispensing bath toy as set forthin claim 1, further comprising: a bathing liquid held within the liquidcontainer.
 8. The dispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 7, wherein:the bathing liquid is shampoo.
 9. A dispensing bath toy, comprising: anouter cloth shell in the form of a living thing and having an interiorportion; liquid-wicking stuffing held within the interior portion of theouter cloth shell to support the outer cloth shell and the form of ananimal; a liquid container having an inner portion disposed within theinterior portion of the outer cloth shell and an outer portion extendingthrough an opening in the outer cloth shell and having a spout and aremovable cap hinged to the container for selective sealing of thespout; wherein the opening in the outer cloth shell is formed in aperineal region of the animal such that squeezing of the liquidcontainer with the cap separated from the spout causes a dispensing ofliquid held in the container through the spout and the opening in theperineal region; and a volume of shampoo held within the liquidcontainer.